McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act

McKinney-Vento is the primary piece of federal legislation dealing with the education of children and youth experiencing homelessness in U.S. public schools. It was reauthorized as Title X, Part C, of the No Child Left Behind Act in January 2002.

Homeless students have a right to either remain in their school of origin or to attend school where they are temporarily residing;

Students who choose to remain in their school of origin have the right to remain there until the end of the school year in which they get permanent housing;

Students who choose to enroll in school where they are temporarily residing must be enrolled immediately, even if they do not bring the records usually required for enrollment with them; and

If a homeless student arrives without records, the school district's designated Homeless Education Liaison must assist the family and contact the previously attended school system to obtain the required records.

For more information on the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Program, contact the U.S. Department of Education, Student Achievement and School Accountability Programs (SASA), Office of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Website: www.ed.gov/programs/homeless/index.html .

Brockton Public Schools has created this web page to provide resources to families needing assistance. The resources are divided into 4 categories: Education, Health, Housing & Shelter and Family & Community Resources.

EDUCATION

NAEHCY: National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth

NCHE: additional information and resources on providing assistance for schools serving displaced students

Horizons for Homeless Children: training & technical assistance workshops for educators and administrators working with young homeless children and their families

School on Wheels of Massachusetts: an organization whose mission is to educate children impacted by homelessness by providing academic support and one-on-one mentoring so children can reach their full potential

CHOICES: a program at Massasoit Community College for transitional assistance and low-income individuals

HOUSING & SHELTER

Project Place Gatehouse: a supportive community that promotes hope and opportunity for homeless and low income individuals by providing the skills, education and resources needed to obtain stable employment and housing.

The Brockton Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, veteran’s status, sexual orientation or disability in admission to, access to, treatment in or employment in its programs and activities.